_Sir J. Wallace and Mr. Browne._--I inclose an extract from _The English
Chronicle or Universal Evening Post_, February 6th to February 8th,
1783. Can any of your learned correspondents state the result of the
_fracas_ between Mr. Browne and Sir J. Wallace?
"Yesterday about one o'clock, Sir J----s W----e and Lieutenant
B----e, accidentally meeting in Parliament Street, near the
Admiralty Gate, Mr. B----e, the moment he saw Sir J----s, took a
stick which a gentleman he was in company with held in his hand,
and, after a few words passing, struck Sir J----s, and gave him
a dreadful wound in the forehead; they closed, and Sir J----s,
who had no weapon, made the best defence possible, but being a
weaker man than his antagonist, was overpowered. Mr. B----e, at
parting, told Sir J----s, if he had anything to say to him, he
would be found at the Salopian Coffee House. An account of this
transaction being communicated to Sir Sampson Wright, he sent
Mr. Bond after Mr. B----e, who found him at the Admiralty, and
delivered the magistrate's compliments, at the same time
requesting to see him in Bow Street. Mr. B----e promised to wait
upon Sir Sampson, but afterwards finding that no warrant had
issued, did not think it incumbent on him to comply, and so went
about his avocations.
"Sir J----s's situation after the fracas very much excited the
compassion of the populace; they beheld that veteran bleeding on
the streets, who had so often gloriously fought the battles of
his country! The above account is as accurate as we could learn;
but should there be any trivial misstatement, we shall be happy
in correcting it, through the means of any of our readers who
were present on the spot.
"Sir James Wallace has not only given signal proofs of his
bravery as a naval officer, but particularly in a duel with
another marine officer, Mr. Perkins, whom he fought at Cape
François; each taking hold of the end of a handkerchief, fired,
and although the balls went through both their bodies, neither
of the wounds proved mortal! The friars at Cape François, with
great humanity, took charge of them till they were cured of
their wounds."